Facebook tops Google's online traffic

According to Web measurement firm Compete, Facebook has passed search engine giant Google to become the top source for traffic to major portals like Yahoo and MSN, and is among the leaders for other types of sites, writes The San Francisco Chronicle.

This trend is shifting the way Web site operators approach online marketing, even as Google takes steps to move into the social media world. Some experts say social media could become the Internet's next search engine.

"People are spending less time navigating the Internet on their own and are now navigating the Internet based on their friends' recommendations or their friends' activities," says Dave Yovanno, chief executive of Gigya, a firm that offers social media services.

The FBI and other police agencies don't need to obtain a search warrant to learn the locations of Americans' cellphones, the US Department of Justice told a federal appeals court in Philadelphia, reports CNET.

A justice department attorney told the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that there is no constitutional problem with obtaining records from cellular providers that can reveal the approximate locations of handheld and mobile devices.

This is the first federal appeals court to address warrantless location tracking, which raises novel issues of government surveillance and whether Americans have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their, or at least their cellphones', whereabouts.

Less than one day after Google improved the privacy controls in its Google Buzz social service, the company is plugging more privacy flaws and is mulling a version of the social service that is not integrated with Gmail, states eWeek.

The search engine unveiled Google Buzz on 9 February, offering its 176 million Gmail users the opportunity to post status updates, inline videos, photos and other content.

While the service successfully mimics some of the functionality of Facebook and Twitter, it also upset users by exposing their Gmail contacts through their Google profiles, which the service uses as the glue to connect users.

Barbie is no longer the less-than-intelligent blonde she once was, now earning her keep as a professional geek, says The Escapist.

Barbie has had over 100 careers since 1959, taking on the work of firefighter to astronaut, and Mattel has just revealed her latest. Barbie's 126th career will be computer engineer, establishing her as an official nerd.

Computer engineer was chosen by the popular vote of over 500 000 people; the first time Barbie's career has ever been decided this way. Other choices included architect, environmentalist, news anchor, and surgeon, with news anchor set for Barbie's 125th career as it won the popular vote among girls.